While we’re still fully processing Benedict and Sophie’s star-crossed love story on Bridgerton season 4, those who burn for the Netflix hit are already anticipating its upcoming fifth season. Fans are speculating whether season 5 will center around Francesca or Eloise’s respective romances, since showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed they’re the next Bridgerton siblings to find love. But, I raise another question that’s weighed heavily on the show’s dedicated fanbase: Is Regé-Jean Page coming back for Bridgerton season 5?

Well, Regé-Jean weighed in with a telling response at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon on Friday, March 12.

“Listen, I don’t know if you’re on the internet, but I’m seeing a lot of people saying we need you back on Bridgerton. Is there a chance you’d ever return?” Leah Henry of Leah’s Lemonade asked the actor, to which he responded, “You know, it’s funny you say that, because I’m not on the internet.”

He then quipped, “Thank you very much,” as he ran off after Leah said, “Well, maybe we’ll see you again?”

Hmm…interesting response, considering rumors of his potential return were fueled when eagle-eyed fans noticed that he had recently followed a few cast members from the Ton, including Luke Newton, Yerin Ha, Hannah Dodd, and Masali Baduza.

While some fans were taken aback by Regé-Jean’s response, others weren’t entirely convinced that his time as Duke Simon Bassett is really over.

“My Saphne S5 delusions being shut down,” one person wrote of Simon and Daphne’s romance.

“Unfortunately this feeds my delusion, because he is online, he followed Simone, Hannah, Masali, and Yerin on [Instagram]. He could be pulling an Andrew Garfield on us,” another shared, referencing Andrew’s denials that he would star alongside Tom Holland in Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021 (which, as we all know, he ended up doing!).

ICYMI, Regé-Jean initially left the show after playing Phoebe Dynevor’s love interest on season 1. In February, showrunner Jess Brownell weighed in on whether Netflix would explore recasting their characters, as they haven’t reprised their roles in a minute.

At the time, she told Variety, “We are not interested in recasting the characters. I think it would feel like a disservice to everything Regé and Phoebe set up in season one, and all the beautiful work they put into those characters.”

She added that she would “love to find a time to bring everyone back at some point in the future.”

She added that she would “love to find a time to bring everyone back at some point in the future.”